thyroid and gluten free diet

[kikidi]

My mother has been diagnosed with hashimoto. I was wondering if anyone has been on a gluten free diet with hashimoto and what effect it has had. Mum's doctor suggested to try the diet. Thank you

[Ericamegan]

It's usually the next day after eating gluten that I start feeling bad. Kind of like a food hangover instead of alcohol.

[Barb135]

I thought that's what you meant, since I know your history, but wanted to clarify, since newcomers reading the thread might not understand. Thanks.

[danie17075rm]

Sorry, to clarify gluten free did not impact my thyroid at all. In fact my functioning decreased to the point of me needing it removed.  The thyroid removal has helped.

[LazyMoose]

So after any gluten you feel these symptoms immediately.....?

The gluten sensitivity is such a gray area compared to celiac disease.

After reading so many posts about natural Drs claiming gluten is the cause of autoimmune I find myself over analyzing meals with gluten. I don't feel anything from it.

Back a few years ago I was feeling digestively "off par" right after eating breakfast cereal with dairy milk. I found out it was the dairy milk causing the discomfort. I now enjoy cereal with Almond milk and feel normal after.

[Ericamegan]

I've cut out gluten because I am sensitive to it.  For me it causes bloating, gas, makes my sinuses swell, achy joints and causes me to feel more fatigued. I also have TED and notice after eating gluten my eyes flare up.  I've never been tested but cut it out on my own.  I used to cheat and then I'd notice the next couple days I wouldn't fell well.  Thinking about completely cutting out dairy too. I've already switched to almond milk!  Yumm....  

[LazyMoose]

Question about - "It explains why those of us with autoimmune thyroid diseases are sensitive to gluten."

So you are sensitive to gluten I will presume.  I know some actual Celiac sufferers will keel over in pain following gluten, but just what exactly happens to You and others after consuming gluten if your sensitive to it? I always wondered.

After having Hashimoto for possibly 20 years, its very stabilized now and grains do not seem to aggravate anything in me like I see others writing about.

I did however, go gluten free, and sugar free for a few months several years ago to clear up a digestive bacterial imbalance, which worked. I eat grains, but less of them than before,  with no obvious problem, reaction, or sensitivity. I feel way better, and digest better and the temporary digestive condition was re-balanced. So I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, but the gluten-autoimmune link is interesting.

Lactose on the other hand, cow milk, is a no no for me. (Almond milk rocks).

[Barb135]

Was it the thyroid removal that didn't help you, or going gluten free?

[danie17075rm]

Everyone has a different reaction, I will just tell you my experience.  I was gluten free for 1.5 years during a hashimoto's crisis in which my thyroid decided to become hyper instead of hypo.  I ended up having my thyroid removed in August.  It didn't help me at all.  I heard it can help some, but unless you are intolerant, I don't know that it will be that beneficial.  Good Luck.

[CaitConn]

http://chriskresser.com/the-gluten-thyroid-connection

Check out this article on the connection.  It explains why those of us with autoimmune thyroid diseases are sensitive to gluten, and why the thyroid issues continue after a gluten free diet has been established.  According to this doctor, even ONE mistake ingestion of gluten products will cause a six month flare up of antibodies, both to gluten and to the thyroid (and any other immune responses you may have).  

[redheadaussie]

Going gluten free is NOT going to change the thyroid issues. Never ever full stop. The antibody for gluten can not ever attack a thyroid. BUT going gluten free however can lessen the feeling of being say Hashimoto patient. The symptoms are very similar and it can feel like the thyroid symptoms lessen when in fact it is the gluten symptoms.
There are MANY thyroid patients who are gluten intolerant, the understanding of this is still in the works. It is highly likely that one auto-immune disease can trigger another.
  
   It sure is a good thing to help feel better on the rotten thyroid disease journey.

I am a severe Hashimoto patient, had my thyroid out 3 years ago. Been gluten free for over 10 years and I can tell you when I accidentally eat gluten I can sure tell the difference! Brain fog via gluten is just a little different from a hypo brain fog.

So keep at it. Anything to help fight the battle to good health has to be a good thing, hey?
Cheers

[JustMEinT]

so what is the real story here..... I went 100% gluten free four years ago, and this year I have been foiund to have an active (growing) multinodular goitre... I fluctuate between hypoT and hyperT.... can't blame it on the fact that I eat foods with gluten in...... so being gluten free has not stopped me from having thyroid issues, and certainly has not helped my thyroid issues either.... does help my bowel tho!  YEH!!!!

[Sherri90049]

Thanks for letting me know! Will definitely take a look at it when I get a chance!

Will be rechecking my TPO after being off gluten for a while and hoping for some improvement. Keep everyone posted!

[goolarra]

If you have not already done so, you might take a look at this thread, which will fill you in on some background of the g/f debate and what we are arguing and what we are not:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Thyroid-Disorders/More-research-connecting-gluten-to-thryoid-disease/show/1284972

[goolarra]

There's a lot of discussion in previous threads on this subject, so some of this may not make sense to people who haven't been involved previously.

I'm in no way disputing the fact that once you have one autoimmune disease, you are more apt to get another than the general population.  So, logically, since both Hashi's and celiac are autoimmune, you would expect that those of us with Hashi's would have a higher incidence of celiac.  

The claim that has been made is that giving up gluten (for celiacs, non-celiac gluten intolerants, and even people with no gluten intolerant symptoms) will in some way send Hashi's antibodies into remission.  The "lie" was part of a quote...I don't think anyone is lying.  The point of the quote is that if you repeat something that has not been proven often enough, it takes on a life of its own, and becomes "truth" (conventional wisdom).  I believe that's what's happening on this forum, and it's becoming very deceptive.  It's also how Hitler got the Germans to turn a blind eye while he murdered 6,000,000 people.  And I'm not comparing anyone to Hitler...once again, just an analogy that illustrates my point on repetition.  

So, the study I want to see is the one that proves that thyroid antibodies actually go to zero on a g/f diet, and I still have not seen it.  It's actually an easy study to take on given the higher incidence of Hashi's among celiacs.  Celiacs, adhering to a strict g/f diet, which can be monitored for compliance by bloodwork , should have absolutely no Hashi's.

A g/f diet for celiacs is a no-brainer.  If you feel better for any reason on a g/f diet, but all means, do it.  But when the implication becomes that you can "cure" your Hashi's by going g/f, prove it.  

As I said, some of us commenting on this thread have a lot of background discussing this subject...it may take more reading betwwen the lines than most threads do.  Sorry about that.

  

[Sherri90049]

The science regarding this connection is extensive. Here is another one. I don't want to take up all the space to post all of the studies, but there have been plenty - enough to be able to say that gluten does seem to be the cause of thyroid problems in many people. In myself and my family, I know it is. My mother and sister both have celiac. They are also both borderline hypo and probably Hashi's too, but they choose to keep eating gluten and not go to the doctor. I tested negative for celiac but I always feel a ton better when I don't eat gluten. So I definitely have subclinical gluten intolerance, and I have Hashi's and am hypo. Praying in a few months that I will have as good of results as Tamra and others who have gone this route.

I'm big on researching stuff and getting as much info as possible. I also really like seeing scientific studies to back up what the consensus says. So this definitely does not qualify as a "lie" that's been repeated so often that it became true.

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1998 Nov;10(11):927-31.
Autoimmune thyroid diseases and coeliac disease.

Sategna-Guidetti C, Bruno M, Mazza E, Carlino A, Predebon S, Tagliabue M, Brossa C.

Department of Internal Medicine, Cattedra di Gastroenterologia, Universita' di Torino, Italy.

Comment in:

    * Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1999 Aug;11(8):939-40.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease may be associated with a wide variety of diseases of known or suspected immunological aetiology. OBJECTIVE: To screen for both (a) the prevalence of coeliac disease in adults with autoimmune thyroid diseases, and (b) thyroid impairment among adults with coeliac disease, as compared to sex- and age-matched controls. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 152 consecutive adults with autoimmune thyroid diseases, 185 consecutive coeliac disease patients (53 newly diagnosed and 132 already on a gluten-free diet) and 170 sex- and age-matched controls. METHODS: Screening for coeliac disease was done by means of IgA anti-endomysium antibodies, detected by indirect immunofluorescence on monkey oesophagus. Patients with positive sera underwent duodenal biopsy for diagnostic confirmation. Thyroid function was assessed by measuring the levels of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T3, free T4, thyroperoxidase and thyroid microsome antibodies. Autoimmune thyroid diseases were classified according to the American Thyroid Association guidelines. RESULTS: Anti-endomysium antibodies were positive in five of 152 autoimmune thyroid disease patients (3.3%) and coeliac disease was histologically confirmed in all: this prevalence is 10-fold higher than expected. Only one patient presented with gastrointestinal complaints, but iron deficiency was found in three and alterations at bone mineralometry in all. The overall prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases was significantly higher (38/185, 20.5%) in coeliac patients than in controls (19/170, 11.2%). The prevalence of both hypo- and hyperthyroidism was not different from that of controls, while the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease with euthyroidism was 13% in patients and 4.7% in controls. CONCLUSIONS: The association of coeliac disease with autoimmune thyroid disease is not surprising as they share common immunopathogenetic mechanisms. It is advisable to screen autoimmune thyroid disease patients for coeliac disease as there is an increased risk for gluten intolerance. In contrast, thyroid function assessment in coeliac disease patients is probably less justified, although the need for a strict clinical follow-up of those patients with euthyroidism and autoimmune thyroid disease, who could develop overt thyroid impairment, remains an open question.

PMID: 9872614 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Sherri90049]

I've seen several studies confirm the gluten/celiac connection to thyroid issues. Here is one of them. Will try to find the others and post them, too.


Gut. 1994 Jun;35(6):844-6.
Coeliac disease and autoimmune thyroid disease.

Counsell CE, Taha A, Ruddell WS., Department of Gastroenterology, Falkirk Royal Infirmary.

Comment in:    * Gut. 1995 Sep;37(3):447.

Abstract

A well defined cohort of coeliac patients was studied prospectively to assess the prevalence of coexisting thyroid disease and positive thyroid autoantibodies. Comparison with epidemiological data on the prevalence of coeliac disease in a neighbouring area suggested that few adult coeliac patients had been missed. Overall, 14% of the coeliac patients had thyroid disease: 10.3% were hypothyroid and 3.7% hyperthyroid, both significantly more than expected. There were significantly more coeliac disease patients with thyroid autoantibodies than expected--11% had thyroglobulin antibodies and 15% had thyroid microsomal antibodies. This association is clinically important. Three patients are described in whom the coexistence of coeliac disease and hypothyroidism led to diagnostic difficulties and delay of treatment.

PMID: 8020817 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC1374892 Free PMC Article

[goolarra]

I have responded to all this on the other g/f thread.  Science is what I want to see, and I haven't seen it.  

[TamraW]

Goolara, you have heard from a first hand source, but you continue to dismiss my major health improvements since giving up gluten.

Everyone, you may go to my profile people. See my pictures. See how my thyroid goiter has gone down. My antibody attacks have stopped since giving up gluten.

I realize this diet may not be suitable for everyone, but, yes, it has worked wonders for me.

I am taking considerably less thyroid hormone since giving up gluten. I was at the max dose of 150 Synthroid/10 Cytomel in Feb. Now I'm taking 112 Synthroid/5 Cytomel. My FT4 and FT3 numbers prove that I continually go hyper and need to reduce my meds. I have more energy and NO thryoid swelling.

And while we are on this topic, I should also address adrenals. Many endos don't check them with the 24 hour saliva test. This should be standard as many Hashi/hypos will have adrenal issues.

:) Tamra

[goolarra]

I agree that we have to be careful what we post.  Someone (it's been attributed to about a dozen people) said, "If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes true."

If someone says that everything they've read says that a g/f diet can slow the progression of or "cure" Hashi's, the next person reading this thread adds this to their list of "everything" they've read, that person repeats it.  You can see where this is going...the snowflake becomes an avalanche, and suddenly we have "truth".  Meantime, the person at the beginning of the line was just stating opinion.

This is how urban legend is born.  I think we have to site sources when dealing with something that is such an experimental protocol.

I have yet to see a study supporting g/f as a treatment for Hashi's.  Furthermore, I have yet to even see anecdotal evidence from a first-hand source.

[Barb135]

Sorry, but I'm going to throw a lot of questions at you ----

Can you tell us exactly what your "condition" is? Have you been diagnosed with a thyroid disease? If so, which one? And why are you trying to manage it on your own?    What are you doing to  manage it?  

I have to say that I've also read several books, as well as numerous posts from various members, in regards to going gluten free.  

I have to totally agree with everything gimel said.  There are so many of us who have not gone g/f and still do very well.  The whole idea of g/f needs a lot more research because I've not seen anything from really credible sources that say this is necessary.  

When you look at the statements in books  that insist that going g/f is absolutely necessary, there are always the "disclaimers", as gimel mentioned, that tell us this isn't intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease -- makes me wonder;  if their research is all that "credible" why can't they stand by it without the disclaimers?  

I talked to my pcp in regards to going g/f and his exact words were:  "Why do that, if you aren't allergic?  It's not going to help you".......

As gimel said -- follow the money trail.........The doctors who profess to be able to "cure" or "prevent" an autoimmune disease are preying on those people who feel so horrible that they will try anything in an effort to feel better.  Then I have to wonder why it's mostly chiropractors that seem to go for this protocol.  

[alex23232]

Hi Gimel, this is all fascinating to me, as I have just became a member and I have been trying to manage my condition on my own.
I find it interesting that you say that we have to be careful regarding what we post. I am sure we all get better at this as time goes by. But I actually do like reading between the lines and making my own conclusions. i hope this is what makes a good forum, actually what does happen to the bad post!!. However and this is a big HOWEVER
I did really enjoy your response and the logic of it was amazing to hear, as I have been dabbling with it myself not through any book which dealt with Hashi's directly but diets in general.

[luvmy2grls]

Thank you.  I agree that I think there needs to be some further investigation as to why some with attest that gluten free diets help with hashi's and others on the contrary.  Once again, I don't know much about it, have never tried it, and don't have strong opinion on it.  

[gimel]

My apologies to you.  I didn't intend to target you at all.  When you said that you read in books how gluten free diets were supposed to help Hashi's, you didn't seem to be qualifying your statement in any way.  Since we always have a lot of people who participate or read this Forum and depend on the members for advice/recommendations, I think we all have to be extra careful about what we post,  because members sometimes read between the lines of what is said here, and draw their own conclusions.
Your post just happened to be the one that caused me to finally respond to the many posts that I've seen that seem to be promoting gluten free.  Before all this gets any farther down the road I think it needs a lot of review and discussion by our many experienced  and well read members.  If there is merit, hopefully a calm discussion will will bring it out. Or vice- versa.  Either way I think we can all benefit from a good, lively, and open discussion of this subject.

[luvmy2grls]

I'm sorry that i seem to have pushed a wrong button for you.  I was ONLY saying that I have read in books how a gluten free diet can help reduce the amount of thyroid medication.  I never said I believe or practice this.  I also don't believe everything the book says.  I read books and do my own research and talk to people with similar issues only to form my own opinion on the situation..